Increase Our Stipends —Veterans Tells Gov’t

The Veteran Administration of Ghana (VAG) has made a passionate appeal to government to, as a matter of urgency, increase the stipend of veterans to enable them address the current overwhelming cost of living.

Speaking at an event to commemorate the 71st anniversary of the 28 February, 1948 Christianborg Crossroad shooting in Accra yesterday, the Chairman of the Association, Major-General C. B. Yaache (Rtd), said the remuneration members receive currently is not sufficient to meet their needs.

“It is not enough; that is all I can say. We have made recommendation to government on how much we think we should be paid and I am sure government is looking at them to make sure the situation is improved,” he said.

Major Yaache further called for assistance in the area of healthcare as that too had become very costly.

He said, “Healthcare is very expensive especially for people who are old. Their diseases are not the minor ones like headaches…they are major ones that have to do with hypertension, sugar problems, prostate and so on.”

Remembrance

The celebration was to commemorate three soldiers who lost their lives in 1948 during a procession.

The event was witnessed by Vice-President Mahamudu Bawumia, Ministers of state, officials of the various security agencies, traditional rulers, the clergy, and other members of the public.

While Dr. Bawumiah laid a wreath on behalf of government and people of Ghana, Major-General Yaache (Rtd), laid one on behalf of the Veterans.

The Osu Mantse, Nii Kinta Dowuona V, laid another one on behalf of the traditional authorities.

Some relatives of the fallen heroes were also present at the event.

Unfolding story

Members of the Ghana Actors Guild, in a playlet, re-enacted the unfolding event of February 28, 1948, where Sergeant Adjetey, Cpl. Attipoe and Private Odartey Lamptey were killed over demand for better conditions of service.

The three soldiers, together with other ex-servicemen, had marched to the Christianborg Castle to present a petition to the Governor on their unpaid war benefits when they were intercepted at the crossroads by a contingent of armed policemen.

The contingent, led by British Police Superintendent, Mr. Colin Imray, ordered that they disperse and when they refused, he gave an order to the police to open fire and the three ex-servicemen were killed.

News about the death of the servicemen spread rapidly, leading to riots in Accra and other parts of the country.